Abstract: The item consists of notes relating to Persia [Iran] and taken from letters from the Bombay, Bengal, and Madras governments sent between 27 December 1805 and 20 February 1808. The relevant letters are noted in the margins. The notes were made in preparation for an annual report.Matters covered by the notes include:Letters from the King [Shāh] and Prince of Persia to be delivered to the King of the United Kingdom and Prince of WalesFinancial claims made by Mehedi Ali Khan [Mīrzā Mahdī ‘Alī Khān], the late Resident at Bushire [Bushehr]Financial claims made by Aka Mahomed Nubbee Khan [Muḥammad Nabī Khān Shirāzī, Persian Ambassador to the British in India]Relations between Russia and Persia, including the presence of a Russian Envoy at the Persian CourtFrench efforts to form an alliance with Persia and their plans to invade India.Physical description: 1 item (15 folios)
Abstract: The item consists of extracts of Political Letters and Political Consultations from the Government of Bombay relating to gifts of glassware and porcelain for the King of Persia and the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat. In particular, the extracts are concerned with the decision to detain, in India, the glassware intended for the King of Persia until further instructions from the Home Authorities can be received. This is due to the recent refusal of the Court of Persia to receive an envoy from the Indian Government. After receiving dispatches from Henry Willock, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Tehran, the order is given to transport the gifts to Bushire so that they may be conveyed to the King.Correspondents include: the Government of Bombay; the Court of Directors; William Newnham, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay; George Swinton, referred to as Chief Secretary to the Supreme Government; Henry Willock, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Tehran; Mountstuart Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay; T Hoiver, Warehouse keeper; Captain Ephraim Gerrish Stannus, Resident in the Persian Gulph [Gulf].The item also contains a table of contents noting the page number, date, author and recipient of each letter (f 6 recto). Despite appearing in the title and in the first extract Political Letter, no further mention of gifts to the Imaum of Muscat appears in the item.The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Bombay Political Department P.C. 598, Draft 444, 1828/9', ‘Collection No. 8’ and 'Examiner's Office 1828’.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at f 21, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the volume also contains an original pagination sequence.
Abstract: The letters convey intelligence of the movements of the Shah of Persia [Iran]; the Shah’s purported aggressive intentions regarding Afghanistan or ‘Khorassan’ (chiefly Herat), and Turkey [Ottoman Empire] (chiefly Bagdad [Baghdad] and Azerbijan [Azerbaijan]); conditions in Herat since the ending of the Persian siege; Anglo-Persian diplomatic relations notably in context of the Shah’s connections with Russia.The intelligence is provided to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Secret Committee, by Sheil, Chargé d’Affaires, British Mission Erzeroom [Erzurum, Anatolia], incorporating information from his Persian contacts and Edward William Bonham.There is a note before the papers commence stating: ‘Enclosures in Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Letter No. 61, dated 15th May 1839, are missing from this collection’.Physical description: The papers are not in chronological order.
Abstract: Dispatch No. 21 from the East India Company Envoy to Persia [Iran], Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, in camp near Tabreez [Tabriz], to the Secret Committee of the East India Company, of 20 August 1827, which was received from the Foreign Office on 8 October 1827. Macdonald Kinneir discusses the ongoing war between Russia and Persia [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828], criticising the leadership of the Shah of Persia [Fatḥ-‘Alī Shāh Qājār] during the war and describing the ill-discipline of his troops and their ‘indiscriminate pillage’ of the province of Azerbijan [Azerbaijan]. He points to the opportunities missed by both Russia and Persia during the prosecution of the war, and indicates that he believes that Russia will be the eventual victor on account of the ‘deplorable weakness’ of the Persian Government. Macdonald Kinneir also gives an outline of the Russian forces in the southern Caucasus, giving approximate numbers of troops and their locations.The letter originally enclosed the translation of a journal kept by the Persian envoy Meerza Saleh [Mīrzā Ṣāliḥ Shīrāzī] and copies of Macdonald Kinneir’s dispatches Nos. 59 and 60 to the Chief Secretary to the Government of India, George Swinton (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/71/34-37).Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 93 of 1848, dated 1 November 1848. The enclosures are numbered 3-4 and are dated 29 September and 3 October 1848.The enclosures consist of two letters from the Resident in the Persian Gulf (Major Samuel Hennell) to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay (Arthur Malet). These letters include translated copies of letters from the Acting Agent at Shiraz, Mirza Mahmoud (also spelled Mirza Mahomed) to Hennell. The first letter from Hennell (No. 3) reports the receipt of intelligence that Shiraz and Ispahan [Isfahan] were in a disturbed state due to a generally believed rumour that the Shah of Persia [Iran] [Mohammad Qajar] was dead. The second letter from Hennell (No. 4) reports the death of the Shah and the crowning of the heir apparent [Naser al-Din Shah Qajar].Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-4, on folio 49. These numbers are repeated for reference on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure.
Abstract: This item comprises a copy of an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 24 of 1847, dated 12 March 1847. The enclosure is dated 14 January 1847.The item comprises copies of despatches forwarded, for the information of the Governor-General of India, by Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, HM Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Persia [Iran], to Viscount Palmerston, HM Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with relevant enclosures.The papers cover a number of matters, notably including:1) Sheil’s advice to Major Samuel Hennell, Political Resident in Bushire [Bushehr], not to admit the claim of an Indian-Persian merchant to be considered a British subject, since his motive is likely to be the evasion of legal customs duties and because acquiescence would cause conflict with the Persian [Iranian] authorities.2) An arrangement concluded by Hennell with the Governor of Fars for the employment of British ships of war for the redress of grievances committed against British subjects in the Persian ports of the Persian Gulf, and the extension of similar protection to Persian subjects.3) Following instructions from Palmerston, Sheil’s attempt to offer the Ameer of Bokhara [Amir of Bukhara] a ransom of 15,000 tomans for the surrender of Colonel Stoddart, Captain Connolly and Lieutenant W H Wyburd [William Henry Wybard] at either Meshed [Mashhad] or Merve [Merv], including a copy of Sheil’s letter to the Ameer (ff 488-489) to be delivered via the ‘Khaleefa or Chief Priest’ at Merve and which is written to appear derived from the friends of the three men, not on behalf of the British Government4) An attempt made by Prince Dolgorukie [Prince Dimitri Ivanovich Dolgorukov], Russian Minister in Tehran, to induce the Persian Government to issue a firman admitting Russian men of war vessels to the ‘back water of Enzellee [Bandar-e Anzali]’ (on the Caspian Sea), including copies of a letter from Dolgoroukie and the reply of Hajee Meerza Aghassee [Ḥājī Mīrzā Āqāsī, Prime Minister to the Shāh of Persia] which Sheil obtained from a ‘private source’ (ff 490-491).5) Sheil’s report of three incidents involving the use of torture – which had officially been abolished by a firman – and the protests made by both Sheil and Dolgoroukie and the actions taken in each case. The incidents relate to: a ‘barbarous act’ committed by Thamasp Meerza [Ṭahmāsp/Ṭahmāsb Mīrzā], a son of the late Shah and governor of a small district near Tabreez [Tabriz] named Binab, leading to his recall to Tehran; the apparent torture to death of a ‘Mahomedan’ [Muslim] servant of ‘a French adventurer named M. Ferrier’ suspected of robbing the latter’s house; and Sheil’s pecuniary punishment of two Mission staff for the methods they used to elicit confessions from persons suspected of robbing their houses.6) Intelligence from Meshed that Mahomed Akber Khan [Muḥammad Akbar Khān], son of Dost Mahomed Khan [Dūst Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy, Amīr of Afghanistan], has laid siege to Candahar [Kandahar] and applied for aid from Yar Mahomed Khan [Yār Muḥammad Khān, ruler of Herat] (apparently because of the refusal of Kohendil Khan [Kuhandil Khān Muḥammadzā’ī, of Candahar] to join him in an attack on the English garrison at Shikarpore [Shikarpur]), and that their agents have arrived in Tehran apparently to seek Persian support against a supposed British invasion of Afghanistan.7) Following instructions from Palmerston, Sheil’s approach to the Government of Herat to ascertain its views on a closer relationship with England, including: a copy of a non-committal letter from Yar Mahomed Khan to Sheil (ff 500-501); a copy of Sheil’s letter to Yar Mahomed offering to send a member of the British Mission to Herat (ff 501-502); and Sheil’s report that the agent of Yar Mahomed claims the latter would not be averse to having an Englishman there, but that the anti-English feeling in Afghanistan currently makes this impossible.8) Sheil’s correspondence with Hajee Meerza Aghassee (ff 494-498) relating to his unsuccessful attempts to persuade the Persian ministers to agree to the suppression of the trade in enslaved persons in the Persian ports of the Persian Gulf, including the Shah’s refusal to commit to ‘a breach of the precepts of the Koran’ (f 494), and Aghassee’s claim that he himself supports abolition.9) Reports that five battalions (3000 men) have arrived in Tehran to form part of the force for the intended expedition to Khorassan [Khorasan], including: the planned objectives of the expedition in Asterabad [Gorgan], Boojnoord [Bojnord] and Kelat [Kalat]; and uncertainty regarding its command and the attendance of the Shah.10) A letter to Sheil from Meerza Kazim [Mīrzā Kāẓim], Agent of Hajee Meerza Aghassee at Meshed, regarding his investigations in Khorassan, Orgenjee [Urgench?], Bokhara, Herat, and Candahar, into the fate of the Englishman Mr Wyburd, ‘who gave himself the appellation and was known under the name of Hajee Ahmed’. Meerza Kazim encloses a letter from a merchant friend of his in Bokhara relating that ‘Hajee Ahmed’ arrived in Bokhara posing as an ‘Ottoman Turk’, stayed at the Court of the Ameer of Bokhara until the latter gave him to Naib Abdoos Semed Khan [Nā’ib ‘Abd al-Ṣamad Khān], and that at that man’s house he later hanged himself.Physical description: 1 item (23 folios)
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 95 of 1848, dated 11 November 1848. The enclosures, which are numbered 3-4 and dated 15 September and 10 October 1848 respectively, concern affairs in Persia [Iran].The first enclosure (No. 3) consists of copies of despatches from HM Chargé d'Affaires to the Court of Persia [Iran] (Lieutenant Colonel Francis Farrant) to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Lord Palmerston), received under flying seals by the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay. The despatches in No. 3 are numbered 77-79 and are dated 4 to 6 September 1848. They include copies of enclosed correspondence (some of which is in French, with English translations) between Farrant and the Persian Prime Minister [Sadr-i A'zam], Hajee Meerza Aghassee [Haji Mirza ('Abbas Iravani) Aqasi] and others. The despatches concern the illness of the Shah [Mohammad Qajar], his death, and opposition within the Court to the Prime Minister following the death of the Shah.The second enclosure (No. 4) is a letter from the Resident in the Persian Gulf (Major Samuel Hennell) to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay (Arthur Malet) forwarding despatches [not included in this item] from Farrant announcing the death of Mahomed Shah and the 'prospect of the peaceful and quiet succession' of the heir apparent, Nassir-oo-deen [Naser al-Din Shah Qajar].Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-4, on folio 139. These numbers are repeated for reference on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure.
Abstract: Enclosure nos. 2-3 to a despatch from the Secret Department, Government of Bombay, dated 25 September 1844.The enclosures consist of a ‘Memorandum on the Perso [Iranian]: Turkish frontiers, as defined in the treaty of 1639 between Sultan Murad 4 [Murād IV] and Shah Saffer [Shāh Safī]’, dated 7 July 1844, by the Political Agent, Turkish Arabia.Physical description: 1 item (30 folios)
Abstract: The volume consists of translations of (and substances of) letters in Arabic and Persian received by the British Residency in the Persian Gulf; the original letters are not present in the volume. The greatest proportion of this correspondence is from the Resident's native agents throughout the Persian Gulf at Bahrein [Bahrain], Lingah [Bandar-e-Lengeh], Muscat, Sharjah, and also from the News Writer at Shiraz. Most of the remaining correspondence is from various Chiefs/Governors/Shaikhs from across the Gulf, their relations, or subjects; leaders from Persia and Oman are the most heavily represented.Developments in Persia are a frequent inclusion in the correspondence, particularly with regard to news surrounding Shiraz, and the Government of Fars. Events surrounding the diplomatic rupture between the British and the Government of Bushire, and the temporary removal of the Residency to Karak [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye] in March 1839 are also included, along with subsequent efforts by the Persians to induce the Resident to return.Updates on the situation in Nejde [Najd] can also be found within. These cover the defeat of Ameer Fysul [Amīr Fayṣul] by Koorshid Pacha [Khūrshid Pāshā], the Commander of Egyptian Forces in Nejde, and the subsequent establishment of Ameer Khalid bin Soud [Amīr Khālid bin Sa'ud] as the Governor of that province. It therefore also includes reports on the Commander's efforts to induce the submission of Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah], Chief of Bahrein, to Egypt; he claims that the island is a tributary of Nejde. This includes the further efforts of his agent, Mahomed bin Muttuk, to secure the submission of the various Arab tribes in Oman; a move requiring the occupation of Braymee, held by the Naim tribe which is hostile to Egyptian expansion. As a result, accusations of collusion with this agent — made by the Arab Chiefs against each other — can also be found within; the main belligerents being Shaikh Sultan bin Suggur [Sulṭān bin Saqr], Chief of the Joasmees [Qāsimī]; and Shaikh Kuleefa bin Shakboot [Khalīfah bin Shakhbūṭ], Chief of the Beniyas.The conflict between Esa bin Tareef [‘Isá bin Ṭarīf] of the Al Ali tribe with the Chief of Bahrein is also featured to an extent, along with the abandonment of the Al Ali by the Chief of Beniyas, as a result of the increasing threat from Egyptian forces from Nejde.The correspondence also includes material of a more routine nature, such as the relaying of letters and packets, to reports on the movements of British ships. It also includes reports relating to the restitution of property plundered at sea.Please note that Bahrein is also spelt Bharein, and Shiraz is also spelt Sheeraz within the volume.Physical description: Pagination: The volume contains an original pagination sequence, which commences at the first page of text and terminates at the last page; these numbers are written in ink (with additions in pencil), and can be found in the top outermost corners of each page. Page 225 has been omitted from this sequence; this is likely to be a result of human error.
Abstract: The volume consists of secret correspondence sent outwards by the British Resident in the Persian Gulf, Samuel Hennell. These letters are primarily addressed to either the Chief Secretary of the Government of Bombay (either Lestock Robert Reid or John Pollard Willoughby), or the Secret Committee at India House in London. The remainder are addressed to various officers of either the British Government, or the East India Company.The subject matter is primarily concerned with the expansion of Egyptian influence towards Bahrein [Bahrain] and Oman through the conquests of the Egyptian commander Khorshid Pasha [Khūrshid Pāshā]; the expansion of Egyptian power is viewed as a threat to British interests in the Persian Gulf. Much of the volume therefore concerns itself with the efforts of the Resident to unite the Arab tribes of Oman in resistance to the Egyptians. More specific details in relation to this subject are as follows:The expulsion of Sued bin Moottuk from Oman, and rumours of his possible return at the head of an Egyptian force to subdue the region.The efforts of the Resident to secure restitution for the Naeem tribe of Brymee for an attack made upon them by the Beniyas [Bani Yas] tribe of Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi].Negotiations to arrange for the resettlement of Esa ben Tareef [‘Isá bin Ṭarīf] and the Al Ali tribe from Aboothabee to another part of the Persian Gulf, and/or affect a reconciliation with Shaikh Abdollah ben Ahmed [‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah], Shaikh of Bahrein.The Resident's mediation of a reconciliation between Sa‘īd bin Sultān Āl Sa‘īd, Imam of Muscat, and Sued Humood bin Azen, Chief of Sohar [Ṣuḥār].Ideas for enhancing the power of influence of the British in the Persian Gulf.The designs of Khorshid Pasha to conquer or subdue Bahrein, and the political position of Shaikh Abdollah ben Ahmed on the island.The deputation of Captain Akins Hamerton, 15th Regiment Bombay Native Infantry, to Brymee to obtain information on the condition of the town's defences, and his later appointment as Political Agent to Muscat.To a limited extent the correspondence relays news from Persia, primarily from Shiraz. This relates to disturbances in that town, rumours related to the travel plans of the Persian Shah (Muḥammad ‘Alī Shāh Qājār), Persian warlike preparations, and any potential threat to the British at Karrack. It also contains a few updates on affairs at Bushire.The British occupation of Karrack [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye] is therefore also covered within the volume; primarily this concerns measures required to keep the garrison supplied, the health of the troops, and suggestions for the improvement of the island's defences. In addition, the matter of Shaikh Nasir's [Shaykh Nāṣir] expulsion from Karrack, and his later restoration to the Governorship of Bushire is also covered.Also discussed within the file is the inadequacy of the strength of the naval squadron stationed in the Persian Gulf, and various methods for addressing this. This is cited in a number of instances as a factor which prevents the orders of Government from being carried out. The volume contains a split index; the first part is located on folio 2, and the second part is on folio 141.Physical description: Condition: The binding of the volume has come apart, and the front and back covers have suffered significant damage. As a result, the remains of the covers have become detached from the volume.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: The volume also contains an original pagination sequence written in ink.
Abstract: The volume contains letters sent outwards from the Bushire Residency by the Acting Resident, William Bruce. It also includes letters sent out by Lieutenant Robert Taylor who took charge of the Residency (from April to October 1812) while William Bruce was on a leave of absence in Bombay.The subject matter covered by the volume includes the administration of the Bushire Residency, along with the East India Company's affairs and trade in the Gulf; the Resident also reports on pirate activity in the Gulf. Diplomatic exchanges between Britain and Persia is another feature of the correspondence; this activity is mainly in relation to funds and supplies for the British Mission to the Court of Persia, along with equipment and weapons supplied for the use of the Persian military. The removal of Mahomed Jaffer Khan [Muḥammad Ja‘afar Khān] from the post of Governor of Bushire, and his imprisonment is also reported on.Physical description: Binding: The binding on the file has decayed and it is no longer bound. The folios are loose as a result.Condition: The item has suffered from pest damage, which has a minor impact on the legibility of some of the text.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the spine, which is loose; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The volume contains the following foliation corrections: 7A, and 7B; 78A, and 78B.Pagination: An original pagination sequence is also present in the volume, running between ff. 7B-173; these numbers are written in ink, and are located in the top outermost corners of each page.
Abstract: The file consists of correspondence addressed to the Resident at Bushire, Captain William Bruce. However, much of the content has been weeded, and is no longer present in the file; this is indicated by gaps in the file's pagination sequence.The remaining content includes some instructions to the Resident, concerning a stop-off he made at Muscat during his return from Bombay to Bushire early in 1822, along with a dispatch from Henry Willock, HM Chargé d'affaires at the Court of Persia, concerning the deterioration of his situation at Tehran as a result of arrears in the Persian Subsidy. It also includes a letter from the Bombay Government removing William Bruce from his position as Resident at Bushire at the end of 1822, for negotiating an unauthorised treaty at Shiraz with the Persian authorities there.Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence commences at the cover and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: An incomplete pagination sequence is also present between ff 2-40v; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the top outermost corners of each page.